WESTGATE - DERELICT SITE END IN SIGHT? (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

WESTGATE - DERELICT SITE END IN SIGHT?

November 4, 2009 10:12 PM

Cleckheaton Liberal Democrat councillors are angry and dismayed at the way landowners of the former industrial site on Westgate, Cleckheaton have left it to deteriorate. For a long time, the site has been an eyesore.

Cleckheaton Liberal Democrat councillors are angry and dismayed at the way landowners of the former industrial site on Westgate, Cleckheaton have left it to deteriorate.

More recently it has become a dangerous attraction for children with several fires being started there. Councillors have made their concerns and those of the residents known to the Police and Fire Service and have forced the landowners to fence off the site.

But now a solution to the problems appears to be in sight as plans to build 200 new homes have been drawn up by architects and developers.

The draft scheme has already been shared with local residents at a pre-planning consultation meeting held at St Luke's Church, Moorbottom. The overwhelming view of local people was that it will be great to see the site cleared and houses built, though there are concerns about the traffic implications on Westgate.

Councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton Ward) said :

"We agree with local people that this site with its derelict and dangerous buildings is a blot on our town. The site is allocated for housing and it is good news that the there are plans in the pipeline to build the 200 new homes there. There is no timescale yet for the site to be cleared so we will continue to keep up the pressure until real action is seen on that site."